Tree holder



Julyl929; P. M WARDELL TREE HOLDER Filed April 5, 1926 Patented July 23, 1929.

I UNITED STATES.

ATENTA OFFICE.

PERCY M. WARDELL, or DUN-MORE, PENNSY VANIA;

The present invention relates to improvements in collapsible supports, and the pri-.

mary object of the invention is to provide a novel type of collapsible support for use in retaining a Christmas tree in an upright position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible Christmas tree stand or support which will efiectively retain the tree in an upright position, and which stand when not in use may be collapsed into av position for occupying comparatively little space.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a novel type of Christmas tree stand embodying novel features of construction for permitting of the tree being readily attached and detached from the stand, and also embodying features whereby the tree may be maintained in a green state of preservation for a considerable lengthof time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course'of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure l-is a perspective view of the improved tree stand and showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section and showing the method of connecting the stand to the lower portion of the tree trunk.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the stand in a fully collapsed position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein similar reference characters desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates as a whole the improved Christmas tree stand, embodying a supporting platform B and the brace arms or legs I Referring particularly to the platform B, the same embodies a pair of cross bars 5 which may be formed of any suitable material either of wood or metal, and which bars when the stand is in an extended condition, form radially extending arms 6. Each end of the bars 5 is bifurcated for providing sockets 7 at each end of the bars. The bars 5 which are arranged in overlying relation to one another, are pivotally connected together at their cential portions by means of a emnhined pivot and anchoring member ID,

ment with the TREE HOLDER.

Application filed April 5, 1926. Serial No. 99,893 A The legs C, and which are. adapted for'sups portmg of the platform B in a slightly elevated position above the floor surface, are pivotally mounted in each of the sockets 7 by means of transverse pivot pins 8.. As will be observed 1n F gure 1, these legs are pivotally connected at points adjacent their lower ends to the respective arms 6, and extend upwardly in converging relation for engagement at their upper ends with portions of the tree trunk E at points spaced above the platform B. The upper and lower ends of the legs 0 are preferably beveled as indicated and these legs may either be made of metal or wood.

The upper end of each'leg C may be provided with suitable wing screws 10 which may be turned into the trunk E for securing the upper ends of the legs to the trunk.

Referring now to the combined pivot and anchoring member D, the same embodies a cylindrical shank portion 12 which is adapted to pass upwardly thru suitable aligned openmgs provided in the central portions of the cross bars 5, and this shank portion is prefer ably of a length slightly more than the combined thicknesses of the bars 5. 'Above the cylindrical shank portion 12, is a slightly reduced threaded portion 13' which provides a shoulder 14 at the juncture of the portions 12 and 13. This portion 13 is provided with machine screw threads and a nut 15 is threaded upon the portion 13 into engagement with the shoulder 14. Positioned above the nut 15 is a yieldable washer or gasket 16. The member D is provided above the threaded portion 18 with an axially extending threaded portion 17 which is adapted to be turned upwardly into the butt of the trunk E as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. This threaded portion 17 is in the form of a wood screw, and is pointed at its upper end for permitting of the same being readily turned into the butt of the tree trunk. A pan 20 is preferably disposed co-axially of the member D and rests upon the yieldable gasket 16, and this pan is adapted to retain a suitable amount of water for mantaining the tree in a green state of preservation. A second washer or gasket 21is disposed about the threaded portion 13 above the base 22 of the pan 20, and anut 23 threaded upon the portion 13 above the gasket 21, is adapted to be turned into binding engagegasket 21 for preventing possible leakage of the water in the pant-hm the aperture in the pan base thiii "which the threaded portion 13 eXtendsI The lower end of the member D is provided with a winged head 25 whereby the member may be readily rotated for; feeding of the threaded portion 17 into the tree butt. By so having the cylindrical shank portion 12 of greater length than the combined thickness of the bars 5, it will be seen that the portion 17 may be readily turned into the tree trunk without liability of a bindingaction being created on the cross bars 5. p i

, It will also be observed that the gasket 21 and nut 23 serve to elevate the lower end of the tree trunk above the base 22 of the pan and thus allows the water to circulate freely beneath thelower end of the trunk for more effective watering of the tree.

It will be observed that the weight of the tree upon the platform B will cause the upper portions of the legs to firmly engage the trunk of the tree,'and that by so having the bars 5 pivotally connected, the bars may be swung abouttheir pivotal connection for allowingthe upper portions of the legs to readily pass between the lower limbs of the tree should the lower limbs of the tree prevent attaching of the upper portions of the legs at pointsspaced at 90 about the tree trunk.

It will be apparent that when desiring to collapse the stand, that them'ember D will allow for the bars 5 to be swung into substantially overlyingrelation to one another as illustrated in Figure 4:, and then the legsC may be'folded downwardly over the pan 20. This folding of the bars 5 and legs will collapse the stand to a relatively small form for permitting of storing of the stand in a compartively small space.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel type of collapsible Christmas tree stand has been provided embodying a folding platform adapted to be supported in an elevated position, and wherein the pivot member for the collapsing of the platform also serves as an anchoring member for attachment of the base portion of the tree to the platform.

7 Changes in detail may be made, to the specific form ofthe invention herein shown thicknesses of the bars, a head formed at the lower end of the shank portion a reduced machine screw threaded portion extending'above the plain shank portion and forming a shoulder, and a wood screw threaded portion extending upwardly from the machine screw threaded portion, a nut turned into binding rotation of themember within the crossbar-s, anda pan including abase portion fixedly secured coaxially V on the machine screw threaded portion above said nut for rotation with the combined pivot and anchoring member.

PERCY M. WARDELL.

engagement with said shoulder to'allowfree 

